March 20, 2008

 

Hubbard to enhance hatchery process with state-of-the-art structure

 

Press Release

 

 

Hubbard SA announces a new 1,178sqm hatchery which is under construction at Curry's Post in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands in South Africa.

 

The hatchery has been developed cooperatively by the Hubbard EU and Pas Reform design teams.

 

The structure's design incorporates some revolutionary features that will enhance the whole hatchery process, from the setting of eggs to the shipment of day old chicks.

 

Jim Gray, MD Hubbard SA, said during the initial drafting phase, a lot of time was spent identifying specific needs with both the local and international design teams. One of the key challenges was to solve the issue of split placements, he added.

 

Hubbard wanted to design a hatchery that could somehow accommodate the variations in a producer's house/flock sizes - without disrupting other customers' placement schedules, Gray explained.

 

Traditionally, hatcheries install equal setting capacity for each week of the three week cycle.

 

This has not worked well in the past, as there is no flexibility in these old hatchery systems for fulfilling larger placements without disrupting either the previous or following weeks' capacities.

 

By working closely with the Hubbard and Pas Reform design teams, Gray said they have found a solution that will be welcomed by the industry.

 

The team is installing a fourth  "week" of single stage machines, to provide greater capacity to handle extraordinary placements, without affecting the usual production schedule.

 

This provides the producer with flexibility in order size and elimination of split placements.

 

Hubbard has chosen Pas Reform as equipment partners due to Pas Reform's thorough understanding of the hatchery environment and practical industry experience.

 

Pas Reform's single stage SmartSet machines are, says Gray, perfect for Hubbard SA's requirements.

 

Homogenous temperature distribution and advanced pre-heat functions mean that eggs can be brought on temperature for an even start, so narrowing the hatch window.

 

By installing different sizes, Hubbard SA is able to mix and match settings to meet customer demands.

 

The new hatchery has been designed with the capacity to double in size at phase two, even before phase one is completed. This phase two expansion can be completed without interrupting phase one production in any way - and without compromising hatchery biosecurity.

 

Strict adherence to hygiene procedures has been planned into the design and layout of the hatchery,  with four sections of egg handling, setters, hatchers and chick processing located in individual, self contained units ¨C each with its own individually controlled air conditioning system.

 

With controversy around the practice of hatcheries competing with their own customers, Hubbard SA's strategy is to remain focused solely on delivery at GP level.

  

Hubbard's state-of-the-art hatchery places Hubbard SA for superior GP delivery